He Goes Before Us

Something my Dad made a habit of was to speak kindly of people. I must admit, at times when he spoke well of one who had offended him, I could only stare and be amazed. That is an honorable characteristic that I am still working on! Of the many things we know about God, one that I see often in my life (and others) is how God always goes before us! I could not begin to number the times I have faced uncertainty, stepped out in a walk of faith only to discover God was way out in front of me! Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this is in the life of Joseph. The victim of some cruel brothers, he suffered slavery and years of imprisonment in Egypt yet in-the-end God worked evil for good. Appointed governor over Egypt, God used Joseph to save his family and countrymen during a terrible famine. These were some of the last recorded words of Joseph to his brothers: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome that many people would be kept alive." (Genesis 50:20 AMP). What spiritual understanding this man Joseph had of God's sovereignty and providence! When we wake each morning, we have no idea what lies before us - the opportunities to simply trust God in each hour. The tendency is to orchestrate our lives in such a way that we often "think" we take it right out of the hands of The One Who goes before us. The way is indeed rough and rugged at times but when we trust God - as He goes before us - we need not overwork ourselves in worry and doubt. Oh my, how Joseph must have wondered what God was doing as he sat in that cold dark prison but he did not faint nor grow weary; he trust in The One Who is worthy of our trust. Let us never forget ... He goes before us!

Living Memorials

Of all the service-people we employ, I suggest the one who cuts-grooms-styles our hair tops the list! I've changed hair stylists [maybe] three times in the last fifty years, and don't care to change again. We learn to trust that she or he knows our hair and our preferences; furthermore, over time they become more like a friend or family. Psalm 92 is a beautiful and thought-provoking song about God's good and eternal goodness; it begins, "It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks fo the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night." (Psalm 92:1-2 AMP). Perhaps one of the most beneficial spiritual exercises is to live with an attitude of gratefulness. We tend to assume, which generally leads to grumbling when our expectations are dashed. Listen, however, to the way of those who remain focused on God's Goodness: "The righteous will flourish like the date palm [long-lived, upright and useful]; They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic and stable]. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they will still thrive and bear fruit and prosper in old age; they will flourish and be vital and fresh [rich in trust and love and contentment]; [they are living memorials] to declare that the LORD is upright and faithful [to His promises]." (Psalm 92:12-15 AMP). Recently, my stylist saw me out 'n about and she said "your hair looks great - thanks for making me look good." It made me consider what kind of "living memorial" am I of God and His Goodness? Do my words testify and point toward the faithfulness of God? Am I an example of one who is flourishing in vitality, fresh and growing in grace rather than withering and fading? God's children must proclaim His Goodness; we are His ... living memorials.

Treasure Him

Perhaps you've heard (or even said yourself) "I live for this," referring to something about which you are passionate - a particular season or activity, etc. Truth is, we hardly have to announce what captivates our minds, resources, time and energy - it plays-out in our choices and priorities. I sometimes cringe at what we as followers of Jesus don't live for ... Jesus Himself. Jesus said "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34, ESV). Perhaps the Body of Christ [as a whole] has lost Christ as Its supreme treasure. It is no small or casual thing to know Jesus as our Treasure; it requires great courage and discipline to commit to the depth of such devotion. Jesus said, "if anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24, ESV). My prayer is that Christ is my "I live for this" - that He be my greatest treasure. The All-Knowing, All-Sufficient, Eternal, Living Lord ... treasure Him!

What The Heart Needs

The piano tuner made his annual visit this week. For more than fifty years, he's been returning strings to their best and sweetest sounds. I've concluded piano-tuning is an art, and I'm so grateful for this Godly man who has knowledge, experience and a keen ear for the right sounds. The psalmist wrote, "Revive and refresh me according to Your word" (Psalm 119:25 AMP). I know all too well how my heart loses its best sound. The writer  describes the languish of his soul and how it grows weak and his eyes fail (V.81-82), but he knows how it is brought back to life: "According to Your steadfast love refresh me and give me life, so that I may keep and obey the testimony of Your mouth." (V.88 AMP). Hearts out-of-tune lead to troublesome times but what great news that it need not be so. God forgives and His Word renews and refreshes. We sing it like this: "Come, Thou Fount of every blessing; tune my heart to sing Thy grace - Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise - Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above - Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love!" Time in The Word with The Father is exactly ... what the heart needs.

Heart Blooms

Caring for things can be time-consuming and tedious. I've watched Mister Bill tenderly care for an orchid, and been quite impressed even amused at how intentional he has been about proper soil, light, temperature and moisture. Jeremiah 29:17 says, "The hear is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick." Wow, it seems logical the heart needs some tending-to! May I suggest the tendency is to care for many things, however, the heart is greatly neglected. It is naturally exposed to so many things that nurture its already deceitfully sick condition. King David was justly horrified when the condition of his wicked heart was exposed, and it led him to deep confession and repentance. God instructs His true children to diligently watch over their hearts because everything about us flows from the heart (Proverbs 4:23). I propose there is a genuine lack of care, both time-consuming and tedious care, given to caring for the heart. We've just enjoyed three blooms on Mister Bill's orchid - beautiful, healthy, fruit of his tender care! Likewise, hearts rooted in and maintained by God's Word will bear phenomenal ... heart blooms.